Tent, v. t. To attend to; to heed; hence, to guard; to hinder. [Prov.
Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.
Tent, v. t. [OF. tenter. See Tempt.] To probe or to search with a tent;
to keep open with a tent; as, to tent a wound. Used also figuratively.
I'll tent him to the quick.
Shak.
Tent, n. [F. tente. See Tent to probe.] (Surg.) (a) A roll of lint or
linen, or a conical or cylindrical piece of sponge or other absorbent,
used chiefly to dilate a natural canal, to keep open the orifice of a
wound, or to absorb discharges. (b) A probe for searching a wound.
The tent that searches To the bottom of the worst.
Shak.
<! p. 1486 !>
Tent (?), n. [OE. tente, F. tente, LL. tenta, fr. L. tendere, tentum,
to stretch. See Tend to move, and cf. Tent a roll of lint.] 1. A
pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong
cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, — used for sheltering persons
from the weather, especially soldiers in camp.
Within his tent, large as is a barn.
Chaucer.